Anxiety according to Dr.Mercola, “anxiety is a natural normal response to potential, threats, which puts your body into a heightened state of awareness.” (Dr. Mercola) People are often unaware and disregard the severity of the disorder, thus mistaking anxiety for stress. On the contrary, anxiety has many similarities to stress,but stress is an anxiety trigger.(Henry) Frequently the causes of anxiety are unknown or result with our a clear cause rather by its own will.( Henry) The disorder most distinct feature is its internal trigger and its internal response, unlike many other disorders frequently caused internally by the victim without their knowledge.(Henry) “[Anxiety like stress, triggers]... a flood of stress hormones like cortisol
Biological and Psychological Explanations of Anxiety Disorders Research has often concluded that no one biological or psychological theory can provide a sufficient explanation into anxiety disorders such as depression. The diathesis stress model explains psychological anxiety disorders as an interaction between a predisposition to the disorder and environmental stress. In terms of anxiety disorders, predispositions include aspects of biological and psychological factors. Often the main problem found with psychological explanations of anxiety disorders, especially the psychodynamic theory, is that is the theories are more difficult to test. With Freud’s theory, which is largely based on the working of the unconscious mind, it makes it impossible to prove or disprove.
Alice Park’s article in TIME Magazine, entitled “The Two Faces of Anxiety”, outlines the key positive and negative effects anxiety can have on both the individual and humanity as a whole. Because of the steady increase in diagnoses of Generalized Anxiety Disorder and similar mental illnesses, evaluating the origins of anxiety as well as its effects are crucial steps for developing both medical treatments and alternative methods of coping with the disorder. While many of the 40 million American adults suffering from anxiety believe that eliminating the feeling altogether is ideal, they fail to consider what psychologists have mounds of empirical evidence in support of: anxiety is not inherently adverse, and can, in many cases, be advantageous. Anxiety is generally understood to be a biological process in which specific symptoms, such as increased heart rate and blood pressure, manifest as a response to stressful scenarios. In these potentially-fatal situations, the fight-or-flight response is an evolutionary reaction developed to prevent species from engaging in behavior that could result in extreme negative consequences, while also preparing them for possible conflict. Overall, this response is a constructive adaptation, but an issue arises when individuals face stressful, albeit non-fatal, situations. The body still experiences the same symptoms despite the absence of any “real” danger, and the person suffering from the anxiety feels as though he or she has little control over the behaviors brought on by the condition. Triggered by both genetic and environmental factors, there appears to be a wide variation in the severity of anxiety as well as what treatment methods are effective for each individual. However, many psychologists ...
According to Sharp (2012), “anxiety disorders are the most widespread causes of distress among individuals seeking treatment from mental health services in the United States” (p359).
What would be the criteria used to distinguish between clinically significant fear and anxiety, and everyday fear and anxiety?
What anxiety is. Like fear, anxiety causes nervousness and happens in reaction to danger; however, anxiety is a state of distress that can be drawn out for a long time and puts the body on alert for impending danger. It comes from the visions of possible dangers in the brain. Authors Kaplan and Sadock explained it as being “a diffuse, unpleasant, vague sense of apprehension…” (Ankrom). They are saying that it is a sense of nervousness, and that it makes people be on alert. It can also be described as butterflies in the stomach or a sense of
Anxiety disorder is a type of abnormal behavior characterized by unrealistic, irrational fear. These types of disorders are diagnosed two as often in women as in men. Although these disorders can be very chronic and serious, they are easily treatable. Generalized anxiety disorder is when people experience fear and worry that is not focused on one specific aspect; nevertheless, they suffer greatly with headaches, dizziness, heart palpitations, and insomnia. Obsessive-compulsive disorder, better known as OCD, involves persistent, unwanted, obsessions and irresistible urges to perform compulsions in order to relieve anxiety. Unlike other anxiety disorders, OCD consists more of anxiety and worry rather than fear itself. Many people who experience OCD are aware that there is no motive behind their actions, however their anxiety is heightened when they try to ignore the compulsions. People with such anxiety disorders often experience sensitivity to other people’s views as well as worry over their surroundings.
Anxiety is characterized as misery or uneasiness of the mind that is caused by the dread of threat or adversity. The vast majority with a nervousness issue will attempt to evade presentation to whatever triggers their uneasiness. Cases of
Muscle aches, trouble concentrating, and being tired all the time, these are some effects that anxiety disorders can have on a person. Jake has been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Just like there are many different causes and different types of disorders, there are also many ways to treat the disorders. Three different types will be explained within this essay. Number one, the humanistic approach, or being able to fulfill a personal potential. Number two, the behavioral view of the change in behaviors, and then the third, the cognitive side, or mental processes. By looking at these specific views, we will define them and see where they believe the causes are formed and the care they can give to help in combating the anxieties of life.
Stress is “the body’s reaction to a change that requires a physical, mental, or emotional adjustment or response.” Many people realize that stress has a great impact on psychological health; however, they do not realize that physical health can be compromised as well. When the body is put under stress, physiological changes take place, such as increased heart rate or blood pressure. Many individuals do not know the extent to which stress can impact their bodies because they cannot see the changes taking place. If stress is prolonged, physical symptoms may begin to arise. These symptoms are real; however, they may or may not be due to some sort of physical disorder. Stress-induced anxiety may begin to form within the individual because of a constant fear that they have a serious medical condition. The cycle will repeat itself with potentially worsening symptoms.
159. That was the number of times I had pulled back on the shiny metal handle, opening the rotting wood door. I shuffled from the freshly waxed linoleum tile hallway, through the doorway, and into the chorus room. My stomach plummeted, just as it did the 158 other times that I had walked into the room. I looked for a way out of it?
If psychologists completely understood how stress and fears developed, we would know how to produce and reduce a phobia or an anxiety state. We don't. There seems to be a wide variety of life experiences which result in some form of stress, fear, anxiety, or psychosomatic illness. It would be convenient if life were simpler but it isn't. Perhaps a summary will help you review the ways you might become stressed and anxious
Anxiety is an emotion; it is the feeling of fear and uneasiness about some future event or a situation. Anxiety differs from fear as it is not due to a danger in present but a feeling of threat to the future or certain situation soon to arrive in life. It leads to imminent feelings of dread over events. The people facing anxiety have uneasiness, fear in certain situations that makes them withdraw from every place that seems to trigger the same feeling again. Anxiety can be both short term and long term, when experienced frequently; the person can be suffering from Anxiety Disorder. Anxiety disorder can be genetic, withdrawal due to drug use etc.
There is a fine line between anxiety and depression. A line that is often times blurred. Although there are differences between the two, they also share many similarities, which can lead to false diagnoses for patients. It only gets more complicated when both illnesses are present. For example, The National Institute of Mental Health (2009) did a study of anxiety disorders and found that 53.7% of people reported they also experienced major depression as a secondary condition. These researchers also stated that people who are severely depressed do become anxious. In order to have a better understanding of anxiety and depression one must first clearly define the two conditions, understand the causes, look at the symptoms involved, and review the different treatment options available.
Anxiety being the complex thing it is has been given many definitions over the years but the most well known was by Weinberg and Gould (1999) the stated that anxiety was a state of negative emotions and characteristics such as a sensation of apprehension, worry and nervousness; which could be connected with arousal of the human body. Weinberg and Gould (1999) also stated that there was two different types of anxiety. The first type of anxiety effect the mind or mental aspects of an athlete; this type is known as cognitive anxiety, which causes negative feeling and sensation as well as loss of concentration and sometimes motivation which have a negative impact on an athlete’s performance. The other type of anxiety effect the body physically; this is known as somatic anxiety. Somatic anxiety is commonly confused with arousal as the effects are very similar. Somatic anxiety causes sweaty palms and such sensations as ‘butterflies’ in an athlete’s stomach, which can have a negative effect on performance.
People who are feeling anxious often exhibit some physical symptoms that are easy for a person to identify, while others are harder to recognize visually. For example a person may feel restless, have a choking feeling, increased heartrate, chest pain, nausea, dizziness, hot flashes or chills, and numbness which people are unable to notice unless they the person with these symptoms tells them what is happening. A person would be able to see someone feeling anxious starting to shake, breathing heavily, or having sweaty palms. People that are feeling anxious will also exhibit behavioral differences. For example, they will begin avoiding situations, trying to leave situations they feel anxious in, becoming self-destructive, limiting themselves, and becoming attached to objects and people. People who engage in these kinds of behaviors are usually coping with the feeling of anxiety or trying to avoid feeling anxious to begin with. Anxiety can also change ones cognitive thought processes, causing them to question various aspects of their lives, even if they have no direct effect on them, or it the effect would not occur for a while. Anxious people have difficulty handling the unknown, often feel they are going crazy, and feel trapped. It is important to identify these behaviors and physical symptoms in oneself and in others to avoid a potentially dangerous situation and to prevent one from allowing their anxiety to become uncontrollable or to find someone help if it is already becoming too